Co-ops/Internships

Definition of a Co-op

A co-op (short for Cooperative Education), is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills developed in a professional setting. Like internships, co-ops give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and gives employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent.

Many of the standards applied to co-ops also apply to internships with these distinct differences:

Co-ops are generally treated as full scale work experiences, always compensated and may be from 3-9 months in length. Internships may be of shorter duration and may or may not be compensated (although compensation is encouraged).

Co-ops may be tied to accreditation standards or (for employers) to state or federal funding.

Definition of an Internship

An internship is a form of experiential learning that integrates knowledge and theory learned in the classroom with practical application and skills developed in a professional setting. Like co-ops, internships give students the opportunity to gain valuable applied experience and make connections in professional fields they are considering for career paths; and gives employers the opportunity to guide and evaluate talent. Students may earn academic credit, as determined by an educational institution or there is another connection to a degree-granting educational institution.

Many of the standards applied to internships also apply to co-ops with these distinct differences:

Internships may be of a shorter duration than co-ops, may or may not be compensated (although compensation is encouraged), while compensation for a co-op is standard practice

Information for Students

Allow Career Services to assist you with your resume, cover letter and interviewing skills so your internship search is successful--call us at 701.777.3904 for an appointment

Log-in to Career Connectto start with your co-op/internship search now

Once you are hired, there are two places you need to report this hire:

if you are receiving credit for your co-op/internship, register for the appropriate course number (you'll get this from your Faculty/Internship Coordinator) on Campus Connection

in addition, whether you are taking it for credit or not, you must "Report a Co-op/Internship" in Career Connect

Once you are logged-in to Career Connect, go to the green navigation bar on the left, under the heading "I Want to," click on "Report a Co-op/Internship." Follow the directions on the screen, completing the required and/or applicable information.

How to Navigate Reporting a Co-op Hire:

Under the supervision of both a sponsoring employer and the appropriate academic department, participants secure paid, career-related work experience. Cooperative Education students must work a minimum of 20 hours a week, will register for 1 credit hour, and will be granted half-time student status. Any student working 40 hours a week or more will register for 2 credit hours, and will be granted full-time student status

To participate in the program, students must have completed 24 academic credit hours of study. They must also obtain permission from their academic department and maintain a GPA of at least 2.0. (This may differ by academic department.) After receiving permission from the academic department, students will develop their resumes, do job search activities, and upon hire, enroll on Campus Connection. In addition, students must fill out a “Report a Co-op/Internship” hire on Career Connect.

When filling out the information on Career Connect, students will need the following information:

Company Name

Supervisor (to include address, phone number, and most importantly, their email)

Wage

Number of hours working

Term they are participating in a Co-op (i.e., spring semester, etc.)

During the semester, students will receive emails from UND.CareerConnect@UND.edu with information about completing the following:

Student Job Related Objectives (these will be forwarded to the Faculty/Internship Coordinator for approval)

Student Mid-Term Progress Report (filled out by student and forwarded to Faculty/Internship Coordinator)

Student Final Progress Report (filled out by the student and forwarded to Faculty/Internship Coordinator)

The site supervisor will be emailed the following:

approval of the students Co-op experience

Employer Mid-Term Evaluation (this will be forwarded to Faculty/Internship Coordinator by the Career Services office

Employer Final Evaluation (this will be forwarded to Faculty/Internship Coordinator by the Career Services office)

Information for Employers

Discover the talents of UND students...Gain fresh perspectives for your business...Build a talent pool of potential employees...Reduce the cost of recruiting and training professional staff...Retain young professionals

Key Components of an Internship Include:Taken from CEIA

Established duration – typically an academic term or summer, though the end date may be extended;

Hours – may be part- or full-time; during an academic term more common to be part-time if student is taking other courses; in the summer, it is common for internships to be full-time;

Structure – incorporates a dedicated staff, resources, and projects to guide the experience;

Learning – organization provides opportunities and experiences for the intern that are not directly related to tasks or projects associated with the position, which aid the student’s career interests;

Reflection – situations are created and designed which allow the intern to review and reflect;

Evaluation – student is offered an evaluation at mid and end points of the internship;

Credit – determined by the educational institution where the student is enrolled;

Compensation – may be paid or unpaid; if unpaid, employers are directed to follow guidelines for unpaid internships as outlined by state, regional, or national guidelines.

Students can apply via a link you give to your website (with applicable instructions included)

Or you can use the Career Connect system to set up a "schedule" where students have a predetermined amount of time to upload resumes; you would then make the preselects for the students you want to interview and students will be notified about scheduling an on-campus interview

Our office can assist with this option and see the Employer Guide to Career Connect below

Schedule interviews either at your business or at UND Career Services

Register for career/internship fairs and other events hosted by Career Services

HOW ARE YOU INVOLVED WHEN THE STUDENT TAKES THE CO-OP OR INTERNSHIP FOR CREDIT?

The Site Supervisor will receive automated emails from UND.careerconnect@UND.edu. This will be to first approve the experience, and for the final evaluation near the end of the semester. Some departments also require a mid-term progress report -- all completed electronically.

Additional Resources:

Find Your Faculty/Internship Coordinator

Positions in North Dakota

LinkedIn

Education Abroad and Internships Abroad

The UND International Center works with affiliated providers for opportunities for students to study, intern and teach abroad. All internships have academic credit. Some students choose not to receive credit on their UND transcript as it costs more to pay for both the internship and the UND credits. Some programs are more expensive depending on location, specific provider, expenses covered in overall costs (housing, meal plan, etc.). Students have to pay for the internship, but keep in mind the experience you will be getting, the resume builder that will set you apart from other applicants when applying for jobs. Check some of the providers:

ISA Internships offers full-time, structured, unpaid internships with the option to receive academic credit all over New Zealand and all over Australia as well as in Shanghai, China, Hong Kong, Santiago, Chile, London, England, and Salamanca and Valencia, Spain. ISA will match the intern with an internship that's a good fit for their career goals. They offer internships in a wide variety of career fields. Students will work with their on-site contacts and staff to find the right internship for them based on his or her experiences, area of study, skills, and future career goals. The ISA Internship program includes internship placement, housing, our Bridging Cultures Program, the Professional Development Toolbox, comprehensive pre-departure advising, support, and resume assistance, international medical insurance, and 24/7 on-site staff support.

The staff at the International Center will be happy to talk with you further about any of these options.

The Fund for American Studies

The ultimate DC experience. Invest in your future by spending next summer or semester gaining real-world experience and earning college credit in the nation’s capital.

While participating in the undergraduate Washington, DC programs, students live in on-campus housing at George Washington University or in furnished apartments in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Each student takes 3-9 credit hours in courses at George Mason University in addition to interning 30-35 hours per week. Students also have the opportunity to enroll in our Mentor Program, attend site briefings, visit D.C. landmarks, sit in on professional development seminars, and meet top experts in their field.